Saintpaulia plant named `Dusk`

ABSTRACT

A distinctive cultivar of Saintpaulia plant named `Dusk`, characterized by its compact plant habit; moderate growth rate; durable foliage; large light purple frilled flowers; and numerous long-lasting flowers.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSaintpaulia or African Violet, botanically known as Saintpauliaionantha, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name `Dusk`. It isanticipated that the plant of this application will be marketed underthe Trademark "Ultra Violet". Accordingly, the plant of this applicationmay be referred to as "Ultra Violet" `Dusk` in the market place.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Oberlin, Ohio. The objective of the breeding program wasto develop compact and durable Saintpaulia varieties with numerous,upright, long-lasting flowers and uniform flowering.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of theSaintpaulia cultivar `New Orleans` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.5,627) with violet flowers, as the male or pollen parent, with theSaintpaulia cultivar `Laser` (not patented) with pink frilled flowers,as the female or seed parent. The cultivar `Dusk` was discovered andselected by the inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of thestated cross in a controlled environment in Oberlin, Ohio.

In side-by-side comparisons in Oberlin, Ohio, under commercial practice,plants of the new Saintpaulia differed in flower color, were morecompact in habit, had shorter and stronger petioles and peduncles, andhad smoother foliage than either parent cultivar.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leaf cuttings taken atOberlin, Ohio, has shown that the unique features of this newSaintpaulia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Dusk`. These characteristics incombination distinguish the new Saintpaulia plant as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Compact plant habit.

2. Moderate growth rate.

3. Durable foliage.

4. Large light purple frilled flowers that are held upright.

5. Numerous long-lasting flowers.

The new Saintpaulia plant has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature and light level, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Foliage andflower colors in the photograph may appear different from the actualcolors due to light reflectance. The photograph comprises a topperspective view of a typical potted plant of `Dusk`.

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisonsdescribe plants grown in Oberlin, Ohio, under a double layer ofpolyethylene covering with average day and night temperatures of 21C andan average light level of 1,500 foot-candles.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Saintpaulia ionantha cultivar `Dusk`.

Commercial.--Saintpaulia or African Violet.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Saintpaulia ionantha cultivar `New Orleans`(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,627).

Female or seed parent.--Saintpaulia ionantha cultivar `Laser` (notpatented).

Plant description: `Plant form.--Leaves arching outwardly, flowersupright and held above the foliage.

Growth habit and rate.--Moderately vigorous, yet compact. Suitable for10-cm containers. Time to produce a finished flowering plant in a 10-cmcontainer from a rooted plantlet is generally 8 to 10 weeks depending ontemperature, light level, and cultural practices.

Height, soil level to top of leaves.--About 4 cm.

Height, soil level to top of flowers.--About 10.5 cm.

Distance, top of leaves to top of flowers.--About 6.5 cm.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.--Rosette.

Leaf appearance.--"Girl" foliage, scalloped edge, dark green withcharacteristic pale center near the leaf base.

Quantity of leaves.--About 20 per 10-cm pot.

Leaf size, largest leaves.--Leaf length: About 6 cm. Leaf width: About 6cm.

Leaf shape.--Cordate.

Leaf tip.--Acute.

Leaf base.--Cordate.

Margin.--Crenate scalloped.

Leaf surface.--Undulating.

Texture.--Leathery glossy, pubescent, durable.

Pubescence.--Moderate on both upper and under sides.

Venation pattern.--Pinnate

Color.--Young foliage: Upper side: 147A. Upper, center: 183B. Underside: 147C. Venation upper side: 147A. Venation under side: 183B. Maturefoliage: Upper side: 147A. Upper, center: 147C/147D/183A. Under side:147C/147D. Venation upper side: 147A. Venation under side: 147C.

Petiole.--Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Tubular, widechannel on upper side more prominent towards leaf blade. Pubescence:Moderate. Aspect: Horizontal. Color: Apex: 178A. Midpoint: 178A. Base:183A.

Flower description:

Flower arrangement.--Branched panicle, flowers held upright and abovethe foliage.

Flower appearance.--Single, frilled, fused corolla with five petals. Twoupper petals usually smaller than the lower three petals, marginsfrilled or ruffled. Light purple, darker at petal base than at margin.

Flower longevity.--Individual flowers last approximately 7 to 10 days.Inflorescences are generally in flower for approximately 3 to 4 weeksunder greenhouse conditions. Flowers persistent.

Quantity of flowers per peduncle.--Generally 10 open flowers and flowerbuds at a time are present, usually 4 per panicle branch.

Flower diameter.--About 3.5 cm.

Flower depth, base of calyx to upper petal surface.About 4 mm.

Petals.--Appearance: Velvety, satiny. Texture: Smooth. Arrangement: Fivefused into a corolla, overlapping. Upper two petals smaller than lowerthree petals. Shape: Ovate, rounded. Margin: Frilled or ruffled. Tip:Rounded. Size: Largest petals, length: About 1.7 cm. Largest petals,width: About 2 cm. Smallest petals, length: About 1.4 cm. Smallestpetals, width: About 1.7 cm. Color: When opening: 83A. Upper side: Base:83A. Center: 83B. Margins: 83C. Under side: Base: 83B. Center: 83B.Margins: 83C.

Peduncle.--Length: About 7.5 cm. Diameter, at base: About 4 mm.Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect. Pubescence: Moderate. Color: Base: 183Awith green tints. Apex: 187A.

Flower bud, just before opening.--Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 8mm. Form or shape: Spherical. Rate of opening: Rapid. Color: 83A.

Calyx/sepals.--Calyx shape: Star-shaped. Calyx size: Height: About 8 mm.Width: About 1.2 cm. Sepal shape: Linear. Sepal arrangement: Fused atbase. Sepal size: Length: About 7 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Sepal texture:Pubescent. Sepal number: 5. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal tip: Pointed.Sepal color: Upper side: 146A with some red tinges. Under side: 187A.

Stamens, mature flower.--Stamen number: 2. Anther size: Length: About 3mm. Width: About 3 mm. Height: About 2 mm. Anther color: 7A. Filamentlength: About 3 mm. Filament color: Blue/violet.

Pistils.--Pistil number: 1. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color: 83A.Receptacle height: About 9 mm. Receptacle width: About 3 mm.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance orsusceptibility to pathogens of Saintpaulias has not been observed.

Seed production: Seed production is rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Saintpaulia plant named `Dusk`, asillustrated and described.